Method and Apparatus for Managing Multiple Endpoints Through a Single Sip User Agent and IP Address

1. A method for managing multiple SIP endpoints, comprising the steps of: providing a broadband enabled telephone system which implements a peer-to-peer protocol comprising the SIP messaging protocol, the SIP messaging protocol comprising SIP endpoints which originate and terminate SIP messages; said SIP endpoints comprising a SIP address having a user part which specifies to the SIP endpoint which user agent is handling the address, and a host part which specifies an IP address or a domain name, which would result in an IP address; providing a server that acts as a proxy for managing multiple SIP endpoints through a single SIP user address and IP address within said telephone system; providing at least one base station comprising: a first communications means; a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications means; and a second communications means for said base station to interact with, and maintain profile information for, a plurality of handsets, each of said plurality of handsets comprising: a processor and communication interface for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications means; an interface for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a particular handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a particular handset profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through said particular handset; wherein said base station acts as a proxy for said handsets; wherein said base station stores said profile information, wherein each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means; and providing at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with said profile information contained on said base station for said handsets, wherein at least a portion of said personalized content and services is individually cached in said base station for each particular user from among said plurality of said users; wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.

2. A communications system for managing multiple SIP endpoints, comprising: a broadband enabled telephone system which implements a peer-to-peer protocol comprising the SIP messaging protocol, the SIP messaging protocol comprising SIP endpoints which originate and terminate SIP messages; said SIP endpoints comprising a SIP address having a user part which specifies to the SIP endpoint which user agent is handling the address, and a host part which specifies an IP address or a domain name, which would result in an IP address; and a proxy for managing multiple SIP endpoints through a single SIP user address and IP address within said telephone system, said proxy further comprising: at least one base station comprising: a first communications means; a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications means; and a second communications means for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets, each of said plurality of handsets, each handset comprising: a processor and interface for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications means: an interface for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset, wherein said base station acting as a proxy for said handsets; a memory associated with said base station for storing profile information; at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets, wherein at least a portion of said personalized content and services is individually cached in said base station for each particular user from among said plurality of users; wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.